Major depression is a risk factor for seizures in older adults

• Published in: Annals of neurology Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 246 - 249
• Main Authors: Hesdorffer, Dale C., Hauser, W. Allen, Annegers, John F., Cascino, Gregory
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-02-2000; Willey-Liss
• Subjects: Aging - physiology; Aging - psychology; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Depressive Disorder, Major - complications; Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Risk Factors; Seizures - etiology; Mood disorder; Human; Depression; Convulsion; Neurological disorder; Risk factor
• ISSN: 0364-5134; 1531-8249
• DOI: 10.1002/1531-8249(200002)47:2<246::AID-ANA17>3.0.CO;2-E

We tested the hypothesis that major depression meeting DSM‐III‐R criteria or medical therapies for depression increase the risk for unprovoked seizures. Major depression was associated with a sixfold increased risk for unprovoked seizures (95% CI, 1.56–22). The risk remained increased even when controlling for age, sex, length of medical follow‐up, and medical therapies for depression. In the absence of known prior neurological insult, major depression is associated with an increased risk for unprovoked seizures. Ann Neurol 2000;47:246–249